Between May and December 1996, monthly samples of surface sediment (0–1 cm), settling matter, and water were taken at a shallow site and a deep site in each of two consecutive Hg-polluted riverine lakes. In the upper lake, the sediment was polluted also with cellulose fiber. Both hypolimnia turned anoxic, but sulfide was detected only in the upper lake. When sulfide appeared, hypolimnetic methyl mercury (MeHg) increased and reached 47 pM (9.4 ng·L–1), whereas MeHg in the sediment below decreased. The increase in hypolimnetic inorganic Hg (IHg = total Hg – MeHg), which reached a peak of 40 pM (8.0 ng·L–1), was slower, possibly because mobilized IHg was methylated. In the lower lake, hypolimnetic MeHg and IHg increased less dramatically during summer stratification, reaching only 5 and 24 pM (1.0 and 4.8 ng·L–1), respectively. There was no detectable concomitant decrease in sediment MeHg. In both lakes, MeHg appeared to increase simultaneously with total Fe and Mn in the hypolimnion, as did IHg in the lower lake. Our observations suggest that the presence of hydrous ferric and manganese oxides decreased the mobility of Hg in both lakes but increased MeHg production in the upper lake.

Over a one-year study period (2003), we monitored total Hg (HgT) and methyl Hg (MeHg) at two sites in a Swedish forest stream located above (Site(ref)) and below a stretch of Hg-contaminated sediments (SiteHg). We also monitored HgT, MeHg, and ancillary water chemistry in peat water close to the stream and HgT in open field wet deposition. Despite the presence of historical Hg contaminants, direct atmospheric Hg deposition and transfer of Hg from the catchment explained more than half of the annual HgT load at SiteHg. The concentrations of both HgT and MeHg were sensitive to changes in water discharge (Q) and water temperature (T) at both sites, suggesting that the stream HgT and MeHg load can change dramatically in response to changing weather conditions. The 2003 data together with data from 1996 disclosed intersite differences and temporal variation in the relationships between HgT, MeHg, and TOC (total organic carbon), reflecting variable sources of HgT, MeHg, and TOC and temporal changes in factors affecting Hg speciation.

Between May and December 1996, monthly samples of surface sediment (0-1 cm), settling matter, and water were taken at a shallow site and a deep site in each of two consecutive Hg-polluted riverine lakes. In the upper lake, the sediment was polluted also with cellulose fiber. Both hypolimnia turned anoxic, but sulfide was detected only in the upper lake. When sulfide appeared, hypolimnetic methyl mercury (MeHg) increased and reached 47 pM (9.4 ng·L -1 ), whereas MeHg in the sediment below decreased. The increase in hypolimnetic inorganic Hg (IHg = total Hg -MeHg), which reached a peak of 40 pM (8.0 ng·L -1 ), was slower, possibly because mobilized IHg was methylated. In the lower lake, hypolimnetic MeHg and IHg increased less dramatically during summer stratification, reaching only 5 and 24 pM (1.0 and 4.8 ng·L -1 ), respectively. There was no detectable concomitant decrease in sediment MeHg. In both lakes, MeHg appeared to increase simultaneously with total Fe and Mn in the hypolimnion, as did IHg in the lower lake. Our observations suggest that the presence of hydrous ferric and manganese oxides decreased the mobility of Hg in both lakes but increased MeHg production in the upper lake.

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